Hardness vs. Toughness: Are they the same?

“Ethical mining” is a growing movement in the industry. It involves mining practices that are fair to workers (providing safe conditions and fair wages) and environmentally responsible (reclaiming land, planting trees, and protecting water sources). When buying, it is always best to ask if your jeweler can trace the stone back to a certified or…

Similar to a Star Stone, the Cat’s Eye effect (scientifically called Chatoyancy) is an optical illusion where a single, sharp band of light sweeps across the surface of a domed (cabochon) gemstone, making it look exactly like the slit pupil of a cat’s eye. The most valuable and famous stone that displays this effect is…

Technically, no. Pearls are classified as organic gemstones because they are created by living organisms (mollusks like oysters and mussels). When an irritant (like a grain of sand) enters their shell, they secrete layers of a substance called nacre to coat it, eventually forming a pearl.

This magical-looking trait is caused by the way certain stones absorb different wavelengths of light depending on the light source. The most famous example is Alexandrite, which looks green or bluish-green in natural sunlight, but turns purplish-red under incandescent indoor lighting. This is known as the “Alexandrite Effect.”

This is a beautiful optical effect seen in Moonstone. It appears as a billowy, milky-white, or soft blue light that seems to “glide” or float across the surface of the stone when it is moved. It is caused by the light scattering between the internal layers of the moonstone’s mineral structure.

Many gemstones undergo treatments after being mined to improve their color or clarity. This is a standard and acceptable industry practice, provided the seller discloses it to the buyer. Common treatments include: Heat Treatment: The most common enhancement. Sapphires and Rubies are often heated to extremely high temperatures to permanently brighten their color and dissolve…